shibles



UNiTED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

W. SHIBLES, OF TOMASTON, MAINE, ASSIGNOR TO V. SHIBLES AND EDVVD. OBRIEN.

REEFING TOPSAILS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 12,968, dated May 29, 1855.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, WEBSTER SHIBLES, of Thomaston, in the county of Lincoln and State of Maine, have invented an Improved Mode of Reefing Topsails; and I do hereby declare that the same is fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, letters, figures, and references thereof.

Of the said drawings, Figure 1, represents an elevation of a vessels topmast and its yards with my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2, is an edge or side View of the same.

In these drawings, A, denotes the topmast; B, the lower yard, and C, the upper yard thereof, the latter being connected with the topmast by a hook, D, which is affixed to the yard and slides upon the top-mast. Supported in bearings or loops projecting downward from the upper top sail yard is a windlass yard F, to which the upper edge of the topsail G is fastened. To each ofthe outer ends of said windlass yard there isL attached, a rope H, such rope being wound several times around the windlass yard and carried up through the topsail yard and fastened to the head or other proper part of the topmast, as seen in the drawings.

A lifting rope I, is fastened to the upper topsail yard, led up through the top mast and thence downward. And there is also a depressing rope K, attached to the upper topsail yard. By pulling on the depressing rope, the upper topsail yard will be lowered and the sail furled or wound upon the windlass yard F. The weight of the topsail yard and windlass yard, or the downward draft on the same being brought to bear upon the ropes II, H, will cause the windlass yard during its descent to be put in rotation so as to wind up or furl the sail. When the upper topsail yard is raised upward, the draft of the sail on the windlass yard rotates the latter unfurls the sail and winds the ropes H, I-I, on the said windlass yard.

I do not claim so applying the upper topsail yard to the topmast and sail that when the former is lowered it shall rotate and wind the sail about it; but

What- I do claim is- Combining a windlass yard with the upper top sail yard and applying the windlass ropes to the outer ends of the windlass yard and to the topsail yard and topmast substantially as specified, whereby,'wlien the upper topsail yard is lowered the sail will be furled and when raised unfurled as hereinbefore speoied.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature this thirtieth day of April, A. D. 1855.

WEBSTER SI-IIBLE Si.

Vitnesses:

RAYMOND L. GILLoHRIsT, S. E. SMITH, THos. OBRIEN. 

